ATLANTA— Today, ahead of his previously scheduled trip to Atlanta, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson visited the Georgia Emergency Operations Center with Governor Nathan Deal for briefings on the ongoing response efforts to the winter storm as well as to make sure state and local responders continue to receive all eligible support from the federal government. Yesterday, Secretary Johnson spoke with Governor Deal to express concern for communities affected by the severe winter weather and reiterate the Department of Homeland Security’s ongoing support through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

President Obama has declared an emergency for 91 counties in the State of Georgia, at the request of Governor Deal, and all counties in the State of South Carolina, at the request of Governor Nikki Haley, making federal assistance available to support state and local response efforts. At the request of the State of Georgia, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently installing FEMA generators at several critical facilities. Additional generators and installation teams remain ready to assist other facilities as warranted.

Following his briefing at Georgia Emergency Operations Center, Secretary Johnson will visit the Georgia Tech Information Security Center and participate in a roundtable discussion with students and later travel to his alma mater, Morehouse College, to deliver remarks at the inauguration ceremony for College President John Wilson.

DHS, through FEMA, continues to monitor severe weather impacting states up and down the east coast. In addition to the emergency declaration provided earlier this week from Georgia, a FEMA Incident Management Assistance Team is located at the Georgia Emergency Operations Center and another team has deployed to the South Carolina Emergency Operations Center. FEMA also has liaisons in the Emergency Operations Centers of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. FEMA has also activated an Incident Support Base in Augusta, Ga. to provide commodities including generators, meals, water, blankets, tarps, and cots closer to impacted areas, should supplies be needed and requested.

FEMA, through its regional offices in Atlanta, Philadelphia, New York, Boston, and Denton, Texas, and its National Response Coordination Center in Washington, D.C. as well as its federal partners, including the National Weather Service, continues to closely monitor the severe winter weather impacting several states.